A netball enthusiast, coach, and mentor who was recently awarded for her services to the sport has died unexpectedly at the age of 71.

Ros Rush, who was originally from Dublin but moved to High Wycombe, passed away on December 17, 2020, and leaves behind five children, as well as countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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She is known within the High Wycombe community for starting up several netball teams and leagues, with some dating back nearly 50 years ago.

One of her daughters, Joanna Cook, paid this emotional tribute to her late mother.

She told the Free Press: “My mum has been involved in netball at Kingsmead when she started her first team nearly 50 years ago.

“This was when she worked in the office building which used to be next to the netball court.

“And when I was a little girl, she would take me to netball on a Saturday morning where she was one of the coaches that helped run it.

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“There was a league called the BP Collins League and I played in one of the teams that she coached.

“We then ran a junior club together which became our C team for Wycombe Judo.

“We then progressed through the leagues from when they [the girls] were 12 until they went to university.

“That was a really nice experience to have with my mum.

“It was something we shared.

“A big part of our relationship was netball during the years.”

Away from netball, Ros worked at the now defunct A&E department at Wycombe Hospital on the front desk, before moving into secretary and PA jobs away from the hospital.

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She then later worked in HR.

Ros has also described as a ‘devoted grandmother.’

Joanna added: “In 1988, she started the Wycombe Judo Netball Club where she also trained and coached and at one point, there were three teams and I played for them, so did my aunt and I was very lucky to play in them.

“We even got into the Premier Division after starting from the very bottom.

“We came back down quite quickly! But we were in one of the top leagues.

“Many players who have played for us over the years have said that she has been a big part of their lives.

“She ran the club, and she was the heart and soul of it.

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“She gave her time up so freely and family meant a lot to her.

“She will be greatly missed, and I think in terms of the community, netball was her way of getting involved in the community.”

The South Bucks Netball at High Wycombe Netball - Winter League also said: “As a county, when appropriate, we will look to honour Ros and her contribution to netball in South Bucks in some way and in consultation with her family.”

Her funeral will take place on Friday, January 15.